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Mom doesn’t want grandma involved in son’s recovery

Fri, 03/04/2022 - 8:34am

By Jeanne Phillips, ©United Features Syndicate

DEAR ABBY: My son just withdrew from college with a medical leave due to anxiety and depression. My husband and I support him fully and are helping him receive the help he needs. Of course, we are very concerned.
The problem is my mother. When I was young and had similar problems, she told me: “It’s a sin for someone who has as much going for her as you do to be depressed.” (This was especially strange since she’s not religious.) She has been similarly dismissive of my feelings during other bouts of depression. She is generous with money, gifts, cooking, etc., but she cannot understand that being close with someone has more to do with emotional trust than simply time spent together.
I don’t know how to handle this current situation with my son. She wants to be involved, but I have a strong aversion to her being around because I don’t know what she’ll say. I need to protect my son and myself, but I know she’ll feel hurt if I leave her out.
What should I do?
MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE

DEAR ADVOCATE: Your mother’s feelings should not be a priority right now. I’m recommending you “Grandma-proof” your son to the extent you can, by explaining to him that “Nana” has some old-fashioned, outdated ideas about depression, an illness that can run in families and appears to run in yours.
There are far more effective interventions for him now than were available for you back then. Medications and sometimes talk therapy can put him in a more positive frame of mind, and I’m glad you can help him get the professional help he needs.

DEAR ABBY: For most of my life, I’ve felt uncomfortable in my own body. It seemed as though my right arm belonged to someone else. I have decided to have it amputated, and I’m trying to find the best way to tell my family. I’d appreciate any suggestions you might have.
LOST FOR WORDS

DEAR LOST: There’s a name for those feelings you have had for so long. It’s called “body integrity identity disorder.”
Before trying to explain your desire for amputation to your family, please discuss this with a licensed psychotherapist who may be able to help you determine if you truly want to follow through with your intention. With psychiatric help, you may be able to integrate your “alien limb” into your body image.

DEAR ABBY: I lost a friend about two months ago. During the early morning hour of his death, I was having breakfast alone, and I had the light on in my dining room. All of a sudden, the light went out and then came back on.
Abby, the only power that went out was the light over my head. I am a science person. I do not believe in mystical things. Now I am not so sure my friend wasn’t communicating with me. I cried. What do you think?
MISSING HIM IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR MISSING HIM: I think if it comforts you to believe your friend was reaching out to you as he passed to the next realm, you should hold onto and treasure that thought.
If it doesn’t do that, let it go and dwell on the wonderful friendship you two shared.
***
Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets: “Abby’s Favorite Recipes” and “More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $16 to: Dear Abby, Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

Patterson Garden Club discusses its history, plans

Fri, 03/04/2022 - 8:33am

Patterson Garden Club held its meeting Feb. 15 at Pilant Court Reporting office in Patterson.
Officers sponsored the meeting which centered on the history of the club.
Members shared scrapbooks and pictures collected during the years. Patterson Garden Club was organized in 1949 but didn’t join the Louisiana Garden Club Federation until 1974. The longest active member is Linda Thomas.
Thomas shared memories of women wearing hats and gloves, and setting tables decorated with fresh flowers and china. Throughout the years, the club has become smaller and more casual.
Three scrapbooks were donated to the city of Patterson for their memorabilia. Scrapbooks include the first development of city park in 1975 and the Louisiana Garden Club Federation Cleanest City Contest of 2011.
Pizza and king cake was served. The half and half drawing was won by Iris Roy.
Plans were made to travel to the Art Shack in Franklin on Feb. 26. Completing the club’s business portion of the meeting was the topic of co-hosting the District III Louisiana Garden Club Federation meeting with Morgan City Garden Club on Oct. 18.

John Flores: Cleaning up litter, one LITRBUG at a time

Fri, 03/04/2022 - 8:25am

JOHN FLORES

In a press release issued by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on Feb. 21, Anthony Hills, 35, was cited for gross littering. Hills, who worked for a contracted disposal company, discarded storm debris from St. John Parish and got rid of it in St. Charles Parish near the Bonnet Carré Spillway.
I reached out to LDWF Enforcement Agent Sergeant Scott Dupre, and asked him how big of a problem litter is for the department.
Dupre, who patrols St. Mary Parish, said, “A lot of people don’t realize, but the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division is the No. 1 litter agency in the state. We actually write more litter citations than any other law enforcement in the state, but it’s a huge problem.
“It doesn’t matter where you go,” Dupre continued, “you’re going to see litter in every ditch, at every stop sign, and every intersection. It doesn’t matter if you look out your vehicle window or you’re in a boat. You’re going to see some type of litter somewhere.”
According to Dupre, there are three levels of litter infractions where citizens could be cited. The first is simple litter.
Simple litter could be when a hunter goes out to his lease and empties a sack of corn into his deer feeder and tosses the empty sack into the bed of his truck. Suddenly, while driving down the highway the sack flies out of the bed. Dupre explained, though not done intentionally, you’re now in violation of simple littering.
A second level of littering is intentional littering. Dupre says this form of littering is when people actually roll down the window of their vehicle or while running in a boat and throw trash out onto the road or waterway.
Dupre said, “You’d be surprised how many times we write people up for littering when they do it right in front of us. We’ll stop them for a routine boating safety inspection and they’re smoking a cigarette. They’ll flick that cigarette into the water to free up their hands to hand us whatever we need and, we’re like, ‘buddy — you just cost yourself a lot of money.’”
Dupre says the person usually is dismayed wondering what they had done. Unfortunately, cigarette butts are litter in the state of Louisiana and around the country.
On the “Keep America Beautiful” website, under litter research facts and statistics, it estimates nearly 50 billion pieces of litter are strewn along roads and waterways annually that equates to 152 items per U.S. resident.
Other points the website makes is there are more than 2,000 pieces of litter per mile (both roadway and waterway). There is slightly more litter along waterways (25.9B) than roadways (23.7B) and the most littered item remains cigarette butts.
“So many people could have had a good boating safety check, where they didn’t have any violations.
"But because of that cigarette butt they threw overboard, they’re getting tickets,” said Dupre.
The third level of littering is gross littering. Examples of gross littering would include appliances, roofing materials, and furniture that are often dumped along roadways, woods, and agricultural fields.
It’s common to find gross littering on Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge right here in St. Mary Parish. What’s problematic with that is another 10-15 minutes down the road is the Harold J. Babe Landry Landfill in Berwick that is essentially free to the public.
One of the things the LDWF has done to help combat littering is implement a litter hotline.
Dupre said, “A lot of people don’t know that we have a 1-888-LITRBUG (548-7284) hotline that you can call.
It’s supported through a Keep Louisiana Beautiful grant and other different foundations. And we’re the agency that controls that site.
"When you contact that number to report littering it’s going to direct you to our department dispatch.”
Dupre, who is passionate about littering, says the department is always trying to emphasize, “if you bring it in, bring it out with you.”
What’s more, in most cases the trash you take out will use up less space than it took when you brought it in.
Dupre said, “If we can help clean up the place by getting the word out and stop one person from throwing trash out, it’s a win.”

Louisiana AG joins lawsuit against LNG train ban

Fri, 03/04/2022 - 8:16am

VICTOR SKINNER, The Center Square

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is leading a coalition of 25 states in opposition to a proposed federal rule to ban natural gas transport by rail car, arguing the decision drives up energy costs and threatens national security.
Landry wrote a letter to Tristan Brown, acting administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, targeting a rule proposed by the Biden administration in November that would suspend authorization to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) by rail tank cars.
The authorization, granted in a final rule in August 2020, permits specifically designed tank cars to transport LNG, but the proposed rule in November would negate that permission over concerns about increased greenhouse gases, worker safety, environmental risks and “environmental justice.”
“Biden’s war on energy is a war on America’s poor and working-class,” Landry said Monday. “It is high time the Biden Administration to put America first. Biden’s environmental virtue-signaling is burdening American families and jeopardizing the safety and security of our homeland.”
The attorneys general argued the proposed rule creates regulatory uncertainty, chills capital investment in the special tank cars and negatively affects national security and energy costs for consumers.
The Biden administration’s focus on greenhouse gas emissions also “is an attenuated and speculative concern untethered to the scope of PHMSA’s regulatory purpose,” the letter read.
The letter argued the Russian invasion of Ukraine demonstrates why it is important for the U.S. to maintain energy independence.
“Current geopolitical events involving Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine show with painful clarity the need for the United States to maintain its energy independence through multiple distribution points throughout our country,” the letter read.
“The agency should not move forward with suspension of a rule that serves that important objective.”
The attorneys general cite the country’s reliance on natural gas, which currently generates 41% of electricity in the U.S., as well as figures that show significant decreases in greenhouse gas emissions in recent years.
“The growth in U.S. gas production is a geopolitical and economic asset, contributing to our national and global energy security,” according to the letter.
The proposed rule to halt LNG by rail stems from Biden’s Executive Order 13990, directing federal agencies to review Trump administration era rules to suspend or rescind over conflicts with the new administration’s focus on environmental justice and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The letter noted the proposed rule prevents LNG by rail until at least June 30, 2024, without providing the “detailed justification” and “reasoned explanation” of new facts required by law to change PHMSA rules.
Attorneys general likened PHMSA’s proposed rule to similar executive actions to halt new oil and gas leases that are hurting Louisiana and other states, and argued the PHMSA ignored evidence of LNG by rail’s positive impacts on the environment.
The letter pointed to LNG prices that have increased 61% since Biden took office – a cost to American households of about $1,000 more in energy costs than last year – and how the administration’s restrictions on oil and gas will continue to hurt U.S. consumers while benefiting Russia.
“President Biden has made it clear he will do anything to destroy American energy,” Landry said.
“Once again, 24 of my colleagues and I are pushing back against Biden’s senseless and short-minded stance.
The American economy and way of life hinge on affordable and reliable energy sources; I will continue fighting to defend both.”
The letter was signed by attorneys general from Alabama, Montana, Alaska, Nebraska, Arizona, New Hampshire, Arkansas, Ohio, Florida, Oklahoma, Georgia, South Carolina, Idaho, South Dakota, Indiana, Texas, Kansas, Utah, Kentucky, Virginia, Mississippi, West Virginia, Missouri and Wyoming.

Bayou Horseshoe Pitchers Association scores

Fri, 03/04/2022 - 8:13am

BAYOU HORSESHOE
PITCHERS ASSOCIATION
Spring League
Week 15
............................W L
Misfits.................86 49
We Got This.......84 51
Flip Cop Dough...73.5 61.5
30/40...................72 63
Super Slingers....67.5 67.5
High scratch point average: (30’) Tim Gilmore 80.8, Calvin Johnson 42.0 and Mary Guzdial 20.3; and (40’) Clyde Landry 47.6, Dale Pearce 47.5 and Dwain Arceneaux 47.3.
High individual ringer percentage: (30’) Gilmore 60.4, Johnson 20.7 and Guzdial 9.4; and (40’) Arceneaux 29.1, Landry 26.9 and Pearce 26.3.
High scratch game: (30’) Gilmore 97, Johnson 61 and Guzdial 33; and (40’) Arceneaux 71, Pearce 68, Landry 68 and Glenn Miller 64.
Most ringers one night: Gilmore 81, Arceneaux 49, Miller 41 and Randy Giroir 40; and most ringers one game: Gilmore 30, Arceneaux 22, Johnson 17, Miller 17, Phenix 17, Giroir 17, Pearce 16 and Landry 16.
Most points one night: Gilmore 267, Arceneaux 177, Landry 170, Pearce 169 and Giroir 152.
High game over average: Travis Bourdier 27.7 and Guzdial 9.5.
Best won-loss record: Giroir 28-8, Gilmore 28.5-10.5, Jim Guzdial 26.5-12.5 and Johnson 22-11.
Most points one night – team: We Got This 514 and Super Slingers 430; and most ringers one night – team: We Got This 136 and Super Slingers 99.

Around Town for March 4

Fri, 03/04/2022 - 8:11am

Happy birthday Audrey Rose, love, all your family and friends … Happy birthday Marcus Williams, we love you, all your family and friends … Belated happy big 7-0 birthday Earl Tyronne Hasley Sr., may you see many more, love, family and friends.

Jeremy Alford: Taxes may be sleeper issue in this session

Fri, 03/04/2022 - 8:08am

JEREMY ALFORD

The upcoming regular session will partly be defined by the massive piles of federal money and surplus cash lawmakers will get to spend. The session will also be marked by issues from the right side of the political spectrum, like those involving transgender athletes, critical race theory, abortion and vaccines.
But there’s one more factor that could shape the mood of the non-fiscal session that convenes March 14 — fiscal issues.
During even-numbered years like this one, lawmakers are prohibited from filing instruments that would create new taxes or increase existing ones. Legislators are also expected to steer clear of state tax exemptions, exclusions, deductions and credits.
However, there is a gray area in these Constitutional guidelines. Lawmakers can still tinker with certain elements of tax law just as long as the end product doesn’t boost revenues for the state. It’s within that gray area lawmakers expect to work this year.
Louisiana’s sales tax structure may be on the table in a major way, starting with the temporary .45% portion that expires in 2025. There’s a growing appetite inside the rails of the House and Senate to be proactive about that fiscal cliff, especially with $2.8 billion in one-time money available to appropriate due to an avalanche of aid from the federal government and state budget surpluses.
“With all of this money available, is this the time to reduce the sales tax and get a jumpstart on the .45?” asked Rep. Jack McFarland, chair of the Conservative Caucus. “That’s something Caucus members are interested in and something that’s being explored. We want to do it responsibility.”
Jason DeCuir, co-owner and partner of the tax advisory firm Advantous Consulting, said he expects to see a few different approaches filed during the regular session. “There is absolute chatter about that sales tax reduction, but I don’t know if there’s any common agreement,” said DeCuir.
Emerging from the same area of tax law, many legislators anticipate House Speaker Clay Schexnayder will return this session with another constitutional amendment to centralize sales tax collections. Such an amendment was rejected by voters last year, but the speaker may present the issue again in another form or fashion.
Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Chairman Bret Allain, R-Franklin, said he’s not directly working on anything related to sales taxes, aside from a pro-business proposal that seeks to limit the number of local audits that can take place at once.
“Imagine doing business in every parish of the state and all of them being able to audit you simultaneously,” Allain said. “There has got to be a better way.”
Allain said his top priority for the upcoming regular session will be reforming the storied inventory tax. Lawmakers have long targeted the tax program for changes, but local officials rely so heavily on the complicated financial scheme that lawmakers in Baton Rouge rarely get the proverbial ball rolling.
“We believe we’ll be able to take up legislation on the inventory tax,” said Allain. “We’re developing a proposal and have already had some discussions with assessors. We’re meeting with the sheriffs next, and reaching out to other interested parties.”
Individual lawmakers this year will also push bills to:
—Extend the deadline for applying for rebates in the Louisiana Quality Jobs Program
—Reduce the severance tax rate for oil over a certain period of time
—Require the annual occupational license tax levied on certain computer programming businesses to be set at a flat rate
—Provide for term limits for tax assessors
—Suspend certain provisions of law relative to unemployment compensation taxes
—Reallocate severance taxes to parishes for use as part of the Parish Transportation Funds program
—Establish an automatic filing extension for individual income tax returns
Of course, there’s only so much lawmakers can do with tax topics during non-fiscal sessions. Next year, though, the House and Senate will be able to advance legislative instruments that impact the state’s cashflow.
That’s when a complete phase out of the income tax could be explored, especially as Mississippi moves toward an elimination of its own.
For more Louisiana political news, visit www.LaPolitics.com or follow Alford on Twitter @LaPoliticsNow

Morgan City police radio logs for March 2-3

Thu, 03/03/2022 - 12:07pm

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the Police Department at 985-380-4605.
Wednesday, March 2
7:50 a.m. 1100 block of Ninth Street; Crash.
8:35 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Com-plaint.
9:05 a.m. 1600 block of Mayon Street; Disturbance.
9:39 a.m. 1800 block of Filmore Street; Animal complaint.
9:41 a.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Complaint.
11:53 a.m. 1000 block of Florence Street; Alarm.
12:32 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Complaint.
2:35 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Complaint.
3:31 p.m. Victor II Boulevard at Greenwood Street; Vehicle crash w/injuries.
4:25 p.m. 1000 block of Everett Street; Assistance.
4:34 p.m. Glenwood Street; Alarm.
4:54 p.m. 100 block of Youngswood Road; Frequent patrols.
5:41 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Complaint.
5:58 p.m. 800 block of Palm Street; Complaint.
6:17 p.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Alarm.
6:37 p.m. U.S. 90; Reckless driver.
7:21 p.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Alarm.
8:22 p.m. 500 block of Bowman Street; Suspicious vehicle.
10:56 p.m. 1000 block of Brashear Avenue; Disturbance.
11:58 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Medical.
Thursday, March 3
2:30 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Complaint.
5:11 a.m. 600 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Welfare concern.

Morgan City man arrested in attempted burglary case

Thu, 03/03/2022 - 12:04pm

(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)

A Morgan City man is accused of attempted burglary in a January incident in Pierre Part, the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office said.

Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:
—Drake Michael Domingue, 31, Mayon Street, Morgan City, was arrested Wednesday on a warrant alleging simple criminal damage to property (felony) and attempted burglary.
On Feb. 4, a patrol officer received a complaint about an attempted burglary at a Pierre Part-area residence. During the interview, the complainant stated that on Jan. 29, someone entered her residence and caused significant damage to structures. It was known to the complainant that Domingue was the suspect. A warrant for his arrest was issued.
Domingue was arrested Wednesday by Morgan City police and remains incarcerated awaiting a bond hearing.

Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 29 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made arrest beginning Monday:
—Timothy Ryan Dupre, 28, Lower Beaver Road, Oakdale, was arrested at 2:31 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of disturbing the peace (intoxicated).

St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 37 complaints and made these arrests:
—Rondrick Adam Pierre, 27, Baldwin, was arrested at 4:56 p.m. Wednesday on charges of driving under suspension and no insurance.
Pierre was released on a summons to appear June 15.
—Terry Lynn Johnson, 46, Charenton, was arrested at 12:07 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging hit and run. Johnson was released on a $500 bond.
—Carlin David Stelly, 44, Franklin was arrested at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday on three warrants alleging failure to appear on charges of possession of methamphetamine; possession of drug paraphernalia; special restriction on lamps; operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked or canceled; criminal neglect of family; and domestic abuse battery.
Bail has not been set.
—Hope Lynn Delgado, 37, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:57 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of theft. Delgado was released on a summons to appear June 15.

Franklin
Police Chief Morris Beverly reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to 10 complaints over the past 24 hours and made this arrest:
—Malik Johnson, 26, Easy Street, Franklin, LA, was arrested at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant dated Feb. 4 and alleging theft. Johnson was booked, processed and released to appear in 34d Ward City Court.

BETTY SHORT MITCHELL

Thu, 03/03/2022 - 11:35am

Betty Short Mitchell, 100, a native of Gibson and resident of Gray, died Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Visitation will be Saturday from 11 a.m. until services at 1 p.m. at Jones Funeral Home in Houma. Burial will follow at Southdown Cemetery.
She is survived by children, Ezekiel Mitchell of Gibson, David Mitchell Sr. of Texas, Jerry Mitchell of Bayou Black, Della Toussaint of Houma, Deloris Phillips, Dequincey Richardson of Amelia, Viola Jones of Houma, Gloria Jenkins of Morgan City and Isabella Smith of Gray; 33 grandchildren; 63 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.